Saoirse Ronan will lend her voice to a new audiobook version of Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn, Simon & Schuster Audio announced in a news release.
Tóibín’s novel, published in 2009 by Scribner, follows Eilis Lacey, an Irish woman who moves to New York for work and falls in love with plumber Tony Fiorello. She returns to Ireland after the death of her sister, and develops feelings for Jim Farrell, a man in her town whom she used to know.
The novel won a Costa Book Award and was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Tóibín published a sequel, Long Island, earlier this year; that novel was an Oprah’s Book Club selection.
Ronan, the American-born Irish actor known for her roles in Lady Bird and Little Women, played Eilis in a 2015 film adaptation of Brooklyn, written by Nick Hornby and directed by John Crowley. She was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her performance in the movie.
“I have long been a big admirer of Saoirse Ronan's work,” Tóibín said in a statement. “It is a tremendous gift that she has made this wonderful audio recording of my novel Brooklyn. She already graced the film with her great talent, her flawless performance. Now she has done more: She has made the words come alive with her voice.”
The new audiobook edition of Brooklyn is scheduled for release on Oct. 22.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
